EPA Holds All Contractors To Lead-Safe Rule

Law360, New York (July 6, 2010, 5:07 PM EDT) -- All contractors performing renovation, repair or painting work in homes built before 1978 must follow lead-safe work practice requirements under a new rule from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that went into effect Tuesday eliminating a two-year-old opt-out provision.

The new rule removes a provision that had allowed owner-occupants to opt out of having their contractors follow lead-safe work practices if there were no children under 6 in the home, the EPA said.

The EPA issued lead renovation, repair and painting rules that included the opt-out...